Superdry plc: Movement in Share Price

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION

THIS IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT FALLING UNDER RULE 2.4 OF THE CITY CODE ON TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS (THE "CODE") AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF A FIRM INTENTION TO MAKE AN OFFER UNDER RULE 2.7 OF THE CODE

THERE CAN BE NO CERTAINTY THAT AN OFFER WILL BE MADE, NOR AS TO THE TERMS ON WHICH ANY SUCH OFFER MAY BE MADE

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2 February 2024

Superdry plc (“Superdry” or the “Company”)

Superdry notes the movement in its share price.

The Chairman of Superdry previously received a request from Julian Dunkerton, Chief Executive Officer, for permission to begin exploring the possibility of making an offer for the Company and to commence discussions with potential sources of finance. The Company formed an independent committee (the “Transaction Committee”) to consider the request. The Transaction Committee subsequently consented to the request, subject to certain agreed guidelines and procedures.

Julian Dunkerton has since confirmed to the Transaction Committee that he is engaged in discussions with potential financing partners (“Potential Sponsors”) for the purposes of considering options in respect of the Company, which may include a possible cash offer for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of the Company, not already owned by him. These discussions are at a preliminary stage and no decisions have been made.

The Transaction Committee has provided limited additional information to Julian Dunkerton and the Potential Sponsors to facilitate further exploration of a possible offer for the Company. There can be no certainty that an offer will be made, nor as to the terms on which any such offer might be made.

As announced on 29 January 2024 and in line with the Company’s turnaround strategy, the Company also continues to work with advisers to explore the feasibility of various material cost saving options. Whilst there is no certainty that any of these cost savings options will be progressed, they aim to build on the success of the cost saving initiatives carried out by the Company to date and position the business for long-term success.

In accordance with Rule 2.6(a) of the Code, by not later than 5.00 pm on 1 March 2024, Julian Dunkerton must either announce a firm intention to make an offer for Superdry in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Code or announce that he does not intend to make an offer for Superdry, in which case the announcement will be treated as a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the Code applies. This deadline will only be extended with the consent of the Takeover Panel, in accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the Code.

A further announcement will be made as appropriate.

The person responsible for releasing this announcement is Jennifer Richardson, General Counsel & Company Secretary.

Enquiries

Disclosure requirements of the Code

Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the offer period and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person’s interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure.

Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person’s interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s), save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the business day following the date of the relevant dealing.

If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.

Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4).

Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Takeover Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. You should contact the Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.

Market Abuse Regulation

The information contained within this announcement would have, prior to its release, constituted inside information as stipulated under Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No.596/2014 as incorporated into UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Upon the publication of this announcement via a regulatory information service, this inside information will be considered to be in the public domain.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Publication on website

In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Code, a copy of this announcement will be available on the website of Superdry at https://www.corporate.superdry.com/investors promptly and by no later than 12 noon (London time) on the business day following this announcement. The content of the website referred to in this announcement is not incorporated into and does not form part of this announcement.

Rule 2.9 disclosure

In accordance with Rule 2.9 of the Code, Superdry confirms that, as at the close of business on 1 February 2024, being the last business day prior to the date of this announcement, it had 99,072,093 ordinary shares of 5 pence each in issue and admitted to trading on the main market of the London Stock Exchange. The International Securities Identification Number (“ISIN”) for Superdry's ordinary shares is GB00B60BD277.

Other notices

Peel Hunt LLP ("Peel Hunt"), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK, is acting exclusively for Superdry and no one else in connection with the matters described in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Superdry for providing the protections afforded to clients of Peel Hunt nor for providing advice in connection with the matters referred to herein. Neither Peel Hunt nor any of its subsidiaries, branches or affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Peel Hunt in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.